HELP: Halloween Party

[Nefertete]

Hi all,

I really need some help. Any advice you can give will be tremendously appreciated.

I am hosting a halloween party for 26 families in our apartment complex.
There will be about 50 kids and maybe the same number of adults.

I never hosted a party before!!!!

So far, I have 2 pinatas and candy galore. I also have lots of decorations.
I want to make a fruit punch with hawaiian punch and ginger ale or 7-up, and maybe float some ice cream in it.
I also have potato chips.
That's it, so far.

Any ideas for a few main dishes that would be appropriate for an outdoor get-together?? No barbecueing - can't cook outdoors.

Thanks very much.

Happy Halloween to you all.

Nef

[Clover]

Hey, Nefertete, long time no see.



I am hosting a halloween party for 26 families in our apartment complex.
There will be about 50 kids and maybe the same number of adults.
I never hosted a party before!!!!
Nef
Well, this is certainly a baptism by fire, isn't it?

I'm not a cooking-for-a-crowd person, but the first thing that comes to my mind is chili. Another is ordering a bunch of pizzas. A third thing--well, I don't see those chicken "drummettes" that are made from part of the wing that often any more, but if they're available, you can let them sit in a teriyaki marinade for 1 to 3 days and then broil them. They're good hot, cold, or room temperature. I'm sure someone else will have more ideas for you.

[islandgirl]

For food, maybe a giant sandwich? Take a whole loaf of Italian bread and stuff it with whatever meats and cheeses that you like--a plain ham and cheese for the kids and maybe proscuitto, ham, provolone and roasted peppers for the adults. On the same theme, stromboli is always a good crowd pleaser--just use thawed bread dough, roll it out, and layer Italian meats and cheeses, roasted peppers sprinkle with shredded parmesan and provolone, roll up, brush with garlic oil and bake. It's good hot or cold. On the Halloween theme, do a 7 layer dip, but make the top layer mashed avocado or guacamole then take sour cream, put it in a Ziplock bag and snip the corner and pipe a spider web onto it. And for that punch, instead of floating ice cream, fill a rubber glove with water or punch and freeze. Run it under hot water to loosen and then float that in the punch bowl--kids love it. Or, another idea my son loved, was to freeze gummy worms in ice cube trays and cover with either water or juice. They were a huge hit.

Enjoy your party!

[Laurielee]

I agree about the giant sandwich, but with that many people, I would opt for getting it at something like subway your your local deli. you could do a few different kinds.

And I would do a pasta salad

Laurie

[NatG]

I like the drumstick idea (I just did this for my daughter's 2nd b-day party - there were roughly 60 people total). You could throw the drumsticks in butter milk over night in some ziplock bags then coat with bread crumbs and bake - you cn get a ton out of this and chicken is good at room temp. You could also make or buy (frozen) meatballs, throw them in some sauce in a huge roaster and grab up some sausage rolls and provolone cheese - voila' meatball sandwich's! You could make a big batch of mac'n'cheese the night before and bake the next day or maybe even get a ton of potatoes, scrub them up and either nuke in the micro (I know this would prob take a while though) or bake in oven and set out toppings for everyone to make there own "stuffed" baked potatoes (this is what I'm planning on doing for DS's b-day in March). Pasta salad, green salad or that 7 layer salad and/or fruit salad could round out the menu. You could make a big batch of that velveeta and salsa dip for an appy - I know my 2 munchkins LOVE to dip chips in that! Hope this helps!

[Terri_A]

A taco bar is easy to set up as well. A vat of ground beef, shells, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, grated cheese, salsa and you're good to go - and since it's a finger food, no utensils needed!

I like the meatball sandwich idea as well!

[dorothyntototoo]

You could make roll-up sandwiches using the large tortillas. Layer with meat, cheese, tomato & lettuce. Roll, secure with toothpicks & slice. You could do a vegetarian variety too.

Cut hot dogs into pieces & put in BBQ sauce. Can you keep things warm over sterno burners?

A pasta salad with viniagrette or a mixed fruit salad

Cupcakes & cookies

[Nefertete]

Wow, thank you all for the suggestions!!

I did get some ideas that i'm going to use.

The giant sandwich sounds fabulous. And, if more people than I expected show up, I can for sure call out for pizza. What a relief.

I love the idea of the 7 layer dip. It's the day before the party now, and I'm just about to make some dips so they can sit for a day to enhance the flavor. Spider web idea is terrific.

I have punch, chips, making dips, and cupcakes. lol
I decided to make macaroni salad and cabbage salad.
Now I can round out the affair very nicely with the giant sandwiches and possibly pizza.

Thank you all so very much.

Happy holiday, and don't get tricked. lol